Donita Large - The Ancestors (2026) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Sweetgrass
02. Iskotew Iskwew
03. Lip Service
04. Treat Me So Bad
05. A Waltz and You
06. Live Before I Die
07. Kokom
08. After The Battle
09. Run to the Hills
10. Sweetgrass (Orchestral)

Tansi! First, thanks for being here. As I am sharing an album called The Ancestors it seems fitting, that I introduce myself and tell you more about who my family, community and nation is. My family roots are Cree and Métis. I grew up with my Métis family (grandparents Lloyd & Mary Poitras) in Moose Mountain and with my parents (Frank & Florence Large) in my community called Saddle Lake Cree Nation, where I am a band member. If you are not familiar, this means my ancestral territory is in Treaty Six Territory which spans across central Alberta in Canada. I now live in Edmonton.

The Ancestors album is an auditory ride, meant to resonate in your body and soul. If I don’t give you shivers at least once, I haven’t done my job. Expect a record that blends a landscape of folk, blues, rock, country, and Cree traditional sounds, which is best described as folk with Indigenous sizzle. Basically, based on your musical tastes (country duet to Iron Maiden cover) you would hopefully find a song you like on here. If you like multi-genre and say, “nobody puts baby in the corner” then this album could be for you.

My evolution as an artist is inseparable from the relationships and responsibilities that shape my life. Whether it be as a mother, an iskwew (woman), a wellness educator, mentor, or singer-songwriter, I carry teachings that root me in community and in the enduring stories of the Indigenous nation I belong to and stand with. My creative practice in writing and co-producing this album grows from this ground. I feel a deep responsibility to my ancestors, whose wisdom and survival despite all attempts at erasure, guide my path. I honour their stories while working to uplift the collective narratives of our peoples. As an artist I am baring myself by sharing personal truths that intertwine with the truths of our nations. I seek to create spaces of reflection and belonging. Each song becoming a visit into memory, connection, healing and ancestral continuity. Buckle-up and enjoy!

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